The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Agate Persian Bow Ring [ARK00056]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: This ring is a very large fit and was traditionally worn by the bowmen of Persia on the thumb, using the point to pull back one's bow and firing. Persian magi are known to have prized agate rings in their work and beliefs. In many traditions agate is believed to cure scorpion stings and snake bites, soothe the mind, prevent contagion, still thunder and lightning, promote eloquence, secure the favour of the powerful, and bring victory over enemies. The ring was given to Bargrave as a gift from fellow traveller Alexander Cooke along with the Indian Tobacco Pipe, Chinese Books and a specimen of Fungia Coral. Chalcedony quartz forms in concentric layers in a wide variety of colours and textures. Each individual agate forms by filling a cavity in host rock. As a result, agate is often found as a round nodule, with concentric bands like the rings of a tree trunk. "A bow ring of Persia, cutt [sic.] out of an agate stone, which must be worn on the right thumb, with poynt [sic.] upward. With this they draw at ease the strongest bow, and then, letting the bent thumb go, the arrow hath the greater violence".] (approx early mid 17th cent)